It says Bardot "chose to abandon her prestigious career to dedicate her life and energy to animal welfare and her foundation"
Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot was born in Paris on 28 September 1934 to a wealthy family.
She went on to star in a number of French cinema hits, including 1956's And God Created Woman.Known as "BB" in her home country, Bardot became known as a symbol of sexual liberation in the 1950s - and acted in almost 50 films.
Later in life, she was fined multiple times for inciting racial hatred.
She starred in a number of French cinema hits in the 1950s and 1960s - including 1956's And God Created Woman - becoming known as a symbol of sexual liberation
Later in life, she was criticised for making homophobic slurs and fined multiple times for inciting racial hatred
After nearly 50 films, Bardot turned heads when she announced that she would be stepping away from the big screen aged just 39 in 1973.
Instead, she announced that she would be dedicating her life to animal welfare.
“I gave my youth and beauty to men, I give my wisdom and experience to animals,” Bardot famously said.
In 1986, Bardot launched her own animal rights charity - the Brigitte Bardot Foundation - which works to protect wild and domestic animals.
The actress later became vegetarian, and in 2013 even threatened to apply for Russian citizenship in protest against plans to kill two sick elephants in a French zoo.
Her activism had international scope and was wide ranging: in 2001, Bardot celebrated success after signing a deal with the mayor of Bucharest to save about 100,000 stray dogs from death.
According to its website, Bardot's foundation now has “more than 70,000 donors worldwide, nearly 300 employees and more than 500 volunteer investigators and delegates”.
Brigitte Anne-Marie Bardot was born in Paris on 28 September 1934 to a wealthy family.
She went on to star in a number of French cinema hits, including 1956's And God Created Woman.
Known as "BB" in her home country, Bardot became known as a symbol of sexual liberation in the 1950s - and acted in almost 50 films. Later in life, she was fined multiple times for inciting racial hatred.